Machine for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes.



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K. ENGEL.

-. MACHINE FOR USE |N THE MANUFCTURE 0E BOOTS AND SHOES.-

' APPLICATION man APR. V2o. 190s.

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APPLICATIONl FILED APR. 2A0. |908. 1142,5.57

I Patented June 8, 1915.

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I APPLICATION FILED APR. 2Q, 1908.

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5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

K. ENGEL. MACHINE FOR USE |N THE MANUFACTURE 0F ooTs AND sHolEs.

' Patented June 8, 1915.

' APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, |908. 1,142,557.

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K. ENGEL.

MACHINE FO'R USE IN THE MANUFACTURE 0F BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, |908.

Patented J une 8,1915,

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MTA/555:

KARL ENGEL, 0F REVERE, MASSACHUSETTSyASSIGNOR T0 UNITEDl SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATIQNOF JERSEY.

MACHINE Fon USE IN THE MANUFACTURE or Booms AND snons.

ject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Revere, in the county of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Use in the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes, of which the followingy description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating likeparts in the several figures'. l

rIhis invention relates to machines used in. boot or shoe manufacture for locating and temporarily securing in desired relation to each other, parts of the lboots or shoes.

The invention relates particularly to socalled sole laying machines which operate to place or to press, or both to place and to press, the outersole upon the innersole or upper, or upon both, inproper position to In the greater number of such machines in common use, the shoe to which the sole` is to be applied is supported `upon a last which, in turn, is supported upon a jack, the jack comprising usually a last pin to enter the last pin hole in the heel'part of the last and a toe rest or saddle to support the for- Ward part` of the last, sole laying means being provided by which pressure may be exerted upon the' sole to cause'it to be united by the cement, Withwhich it or' the shoe has previously been provided, to parts of the innersole or upper.

. In the before-mentioned machines in which the shoe or lasted upper and insole is supported upon a'jack provided with a last pin and a toe rest, the sole laying means operates to press the sole against those parts of the shoe only which are backed byY the last.

Such sole laying-is satisfactory enough upon shoes Which-have no sole attachin portions lying outside the bottomedge o the last, but upon such shoes Vas do haveV portions lying outside the bottom edge of the last, for example, Goodyear welt -shoes and stitch-down shoes, such sole laying is fre` quently unsatisfactory. This isusually due to the fact that the welt or the outturned flange is not pressed upon the sole sufli- A ciently to cause it to adhere to the sole, and

therefore if a tight joint'is desired a separate. Welt rlaying operation must be per.

Specification of Letters Patent.

formed. Furthermore, laying of the welt or ange upon the Vsole in such a Way that adhesionof the Welt or flange to the sole closeto the line of the crease between the\ upper and welt or flange is not insured is apt to be unsatisfactory, especially in the reglon of the shank, since the appearance Patented aan@ a, isis.' Application led April 20, 1908. Serial No. 428,123.

of the shoe depends much upon proper lay- 111g of the welt or flange throughout both its width and its length,'and in the stitchdown shoes especially the nt of the shoe and the .comfort of the wearer depend much upon the flange being so laid that the stitching may follow the proper line, l In the lay'- ing of the soles of both Goodyear and stitchdown shoes, difficulty is frequently experienced in so laying the welt or flange the shank region that the shank will keep its lasted shape and that the stitching may come in close enough tothe last to permit close trimming .of the sole edge inlthis region.

. In the type of stitch-down shoesmade in accordance with the method of my Letters PatexitNo. 931,851, granted August 24, 1909,' the upper is `molded into substantially its lastedshape, and an insole iS attached before the last is. inserted. In the molding process, a .crease islformed between the flange and upperabut. the toe portionl of the upper andalso about the 4heel portion. This creaseadds much to the appearance of the shoes, and .also to the comfort of the` wearer, and it therefore desirable that it be maintained inthe finished shoe.v If the sole be laid upon a shoe of this type by an ordinary sole laying machine in which the laying pressure is exerted almost exclusively upon that part'of the shoe lying over the bottom of the last,lthe crease is usually partially stretched out and the Aflange attaches itself too far-out toward the'edge of the sole, thus detracting both from the lappear- /ance and fromv the t of the shoe. *Furthermore the insertion of the last preparatory to the sole laying .and sole attaching operations also tends to stretch out the crease formed in molding. If the crease 1s not maintained, restored or'reformed during the sole laying operation, it cannot be successfully rest-pred or reformed during any of the subsequent operations because the depth of the crease is dependent primarily upon the relative positions of the ange and upper, and when the tanga is IOOJ.

once Xed in position, as by attachment to the sole, the upper being incapable of movement relatively to it, the depth of the crease is also fixed.

ln view of the foregoing facts, it will be seen that the most advantageous time to determine the proper relative positions of the sole attaching Hange, both with respect to the sole and with respect to the upper, Vis during the sole laying operation. .This is especially true in the case of stitch-down shoes made n accordance with the method of my Letters latent above identified and 1s true only in a different degree of other shoes having sole attaching flanges.

ln addition to other objects, the invention aims to provide a sole laying and upper conforming machine which will obviate the dif.- ficulties hereinbefore pointed out. With this end in view the invention is herein shown as embodied in a sole laying machine having pro-vision for supporting the sole attaching flange of the shoe at certain points, lor `throughout its extent, against the pressure of the sole during the sole laying operation. The `particular portions of the llange for which support will be most useful will depend obviously upon several considerations, among which arethc characteristics of those parts of the upper which are adjacent to the flange.

ln the preferred embodiment of the invention,"means is' provided for supporting the flange at the toe, and also at the heel. Preferably the means for supporting the flange has also other functions. ln the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the

l means for supporting the ange is preferably constructed, not only to support the iange, especially at its inner side near the bottom of the crease between the flange and upper, but also to bring this crease into proper relation to the last and to the sole, and, if its depth should have been diminished during the preceding operations, to make it again of the desired depth. Furthermore the means for supporting the flange has preferably an additional function partaking somewhat of the nature of lasting. This additional function, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, comprises stretching the upper tightly over the forepart of the last and fitting the upper closely to the last in the region of the shank, the latter operation incidentally causing a lengthwise stretching of the upper. Preferably the means for supporting the flange is so constructed that its length may be automatically contracted during the sole lay- ,ing operation whereby it performsa further novel function partaking of the nature of lasting, namely, theautomatic stretching of the upperover the toe and heel ends of the last during the sole laying operation.

B the ex ression means for su ortin the dangle used in the foregoing statement is meant any means which will serve to cause the flange and sole to be pressed together during the sole laying operation. lt is obvious that the pressure may be brought about by moving the flange supporting means toward the sole supporting means relative location of the liange supporting.

means and the sole supporting means is this, that it permits the convenient employment of a further important feature of the invention, namely, the sole positioning means. ln the usual method of sole laying, the sole is pressed upon the bottom of the shoe by hand before the shoe is placed in the sole laying machine. lin practice, the operator bends the sole to the approximate curvature'of the under side of the forepart of the last before applying the sole to the shoe. l have discovered, by experiment, that one result of the foregoing method of sole laying is that it' requires for its successful employment a `sole about a half size larger than is actually required by the shoe to which it is' to be attached.- lf, however. the sole left in substantially a flat condition in the forepart, be accurately positioned upon a sole -supporting device and then applied to the shoe by a relative movement of the shoe support or jack and the sole support, the different parts of the sole will be successively attached to the shoe and there will be no crowding together of parts of the sole confined between two 'parts previously attached. Furthermore, there will be less crowding together of the inner surface of the sole and more stretching of the outer surface than takes place with the preliminary bending practiced with the usual method of sole laying. By the method of this invention, therefore, the full bottom covering capacity of the sole may be utilized, and material saving may be effected in sole leather.

A further .advantage of the sole laying method of this invention is that it overcomes the tendency of the sole to turn-up more at the toe end after the shoe has been worn. This tendency is especially undesirable inV childrens shoes and yet it is most( apt to assert itself in these shoes, since it is the practice in buying shoes for a child to' allow .for the growth of the foot. lt can readily be seen that deformity of the toes will bek produced if the toe end of the sole turns up to any great extent.

" maar f Y.

In the usual method ofsole laying above referred toin which the sole is irstplaced upon the bottom of the shoe bys hand, the inability of the' operator to determine by his eye the proper location of the sole upon the shoe necessitates the employment of a solev large enough "to compensate for any misplacementby the operator. The margin usually allowed for this purpose is con- 'siderable and must be afterw rd trimmed t will there-- olf in the trimmingoperation. fore be seen that a further advantage of the employment of sole positioning means in accordance with the present invention ,is that it permits the sole to be cut approximately to its final size before it is laid. The waste of material which takes place in the subsequent trimming operations is therefore reduced to a minimum.` f

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the sole positioning means is arranged to position a sole resting upon the sole support and is readily adjustable to different sizes of soles, including soles vof different widths as well as soles of different' lengths. Furthermore the sole'positioning means 'is so constructed and arranged that in all adjustments it will position the sole properly with respect to the shoe support or jack, and thus insurevproper location of the sole upon the shoe; y

The feature of the illustrated machine pointed out in the preceding paragraph contributes to the carrying out of a further object of the present invention, namely, the provision -of a machine adapted to operate -efliciently upon a comparatively wide range of sizes of shoes. An important feature of the illustrated preferred embodiment 'of the invention is its adaptability for such operation. As hereinbefore pointed out, the

means for positioning the-sole is preferably adapted lfor use with soles of varying widths and lengths. The means for supporting'thev sole attaching flange is4 valso preferably adapted for use with correspondingly varying sizes Yof shoes. For convenience of adjustment and for insuring a maintenance of the proper relationship -of the flange supf porting and the sole positioning means, the

size adjustments in both means are made relatively to fixed portions of said means, the fixed portions of the two means bearing a iXed relation to each other. noted. that in two of the'illu'strated embodiments of the invention the means for supporting the flange and the means for positioning thesole, each comprises a pair of jaws for the heel end ofthe shoe or sole, and

a pairqfjjaws for the toe end. `The jaws Y ofyeachzpairflare preferablyconnected to insuresimultaieous movement whereby their position'with respect to each other may be varied without disturbing the location of af predetermined line 4passing through the heel means in which It will be andthe toe jaws, which line may lforl convenience be called the axial 'line of the sole.

lIn the illustrated preferred embodiment of the invention, however, inv which for sole positioning jaws have been substituted posilt-ioning pins which yield intov or through the support' 'for the shoe supporting jaws during the sole laying operation or through.

parts carried by said jaws whereby they are automatically adjusted with said jaws, there isprovided for the toe end of the sole means for positioning only one side of the sole. rDhis construction facilitates the plac- I ing of the sole withinothe positioning means but does not interfere with the maintenance also with the above-described positioning i' jaws instead of pins are used. f

It will be noted from the following detailed description that the flange supporting jaws and themounts upon which they are sustained embody, in their construction,

many important features of novelty, and that some of these features of novelty contribute to the successful carrying out of objects of the invention already enumerated, and that other features contributefto other lobjects to be hereinafter referred to, or-

which may be apparent from a consideration of both the manner and the results of the operation of the machine.

It will be noted especially. that a further r object of the present invention is the provision of a machine adaptable not only to shoesof .Varying'horizontal dimensions or I Acharacteristics but also to shoes of varying vertical dimensions or characteristics, for example to shoes of varying pitch at the toe,

heel shoes and `invention is the provision of means for automatically restoring or reforming the crease between the flange and upper, hereinbefore or to shoeslasted over lasts of varying depth referred'to, during the sole laying operation. f In the preferred embodiment of the invention,V this last-named means includes preferably the flange supporting means.' Since the flange supporting means must enter the crease between the flange and the upper in order to perform properlyits crease restoring, or reforming function as well as its Y flange laying function, advantage is taken of this fact to cause the flange supporting means to constitute also a means for supporting the shoe during the sole laying operation.

lt is usually desirable that there be more resistance 'to vertical displacement of the last in the shoe, or of the shoe and last together, than would be aorded by the flange supporting means operating in the manner just described, and `therefore in the preferred embodiment means is provided also, preferably at the heel, for positively preventing the last from moving upwardly relatively to the flange supporting means, beyond a certain point, and it will therefore be noted from an inspection of the illustrated preferred embodiment thata further object of the present invention is the provision of a shoe support or jack for a sole laying machine Whichwill dispense with the necessity for employing a last pin and yet which will support the las'tagainst vertical as well as p against horizontal displacement.

lt will also be noted from an inspection of its illustrated preferred embodiment that another object of the invention is the provision of shoe supporting means for sole laying machines which will not only support 4 the last against the pressure of the sole during the sole laying operation', but which. will also support the sole attaching flange against such pressure and which, in addition, will be quickly and readily adjustable to lasts of varying vertical dimensions as well as of varying horizontal dimensions.

A further object of the invention, which is of especial importance in the manufacture of stitch-down shoes of the type disclosed in my co-pending application hereinbefore referred to, is the provision of means for insuring the maintenance of the proper size length of the shoe during the sole-laying operation. ln the manufacture of shoes in accordance with'the method of my said copending application, a last is not inserted until after the 'insole has been attached to the upper. To facilitate the ready insertion known as a filler.

of the last, l employ, instead of the usual last over which an upper is lasted, what `is A filler differs in its construction from an ordinary last in that the heel end is rounded ed so that it may be easily inserted into the shoe. llt will be seen, therefore, that a last of this type willnot adord lsuch support to the upper` in the region of the crease around the heel end of the upper as will preventthis crease from being forced in, provided the ange supporting means is free to contract its length'during the sole laying operation, thereby shortening the upper and 'making the shoe of a different size from that 'intended. ln order that the creases at both the heel and toe ends of the sole may be restored or reformed during the sole laying4 operation without varying the size length `ofA the shoe, provision is made, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, for locking the support for the flange supporting means in its proper size adjustment, and for causing to be imparted to the ange supporting means a crease restoring movement of predetermined amount. lt will thus be seen that the inner side of the crease at the heel end of the shoe and the inner side of the crease at the toe end of the shoe will be spaced apart a predetermined distance, and that this distance will correspond exactly to the size length of the shoe. f

.ln the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 is a side elevation of 'a machine embodying one form of the invention of this application; Fig. 2 is a perspective view upon a larger scale of the shoe supporting and sole positioning mechanisms; Fig. 3 is a detail View showingI in longitudinal section the shoe supporting and sole positioning mechanisms in operative position, a shoe and a sole being indicated in dotted klies, in the respective mechanisms; Fig; 4 is a plan view, partly in section, of the shoe supporting mechanism; Fig. 5 is 'a detail section showing the operation of the-machine at the heel endof a shoe; Fig. '6 is a detail section showing the operation of the machine at the toe end of the shoe; Fig. 7 is a plan of one form lof'sole positioningmechanism; Fig. 8 is a plan of another form of sole positioning'mechanism; Fig. .-9 is a detail vertical section of thel forward end of the mechanismshown in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the end of the machine which operates upon the toe end of a shoe, showing this end provided with automatic crease restoring mechanism; Fig. 11 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 2 of a vpreferred form of the invention; Fig. 12 is a plan view with parts shown in section of the heel clamping jaws, and the mechanism for operating said jaws; Fig. 13 is a detail. view of and Fig. 14 is a View showing the saving in sole material e'ected by the method of` this application. u y

rlhe general type of sole laying machine to which the improvements of this invention are shown as' applied is that disclosed in the patent to (1F. Holland, 362,447, May 3, 1887. The illustrated machine contains also'improvements disclosed. in the patents to W. S. Hamm, 375,549, Dec. 27, 1887; l-ll. A. Davenport, 781,636, Feb. 7, 1905 and'G. Gilford, No. 694,367, March 4, 1902. Reference may be had tothe patents cited forl a more detailed description of parts illustrated but not completely described lin this application. I

The following parts of the illustrated mechanism are substantially those disclosed of the tce clamping jaws, s hown'in Fig. 11;

in the patents cited: The base 2, vertical guide rods 4, cross-head 6, movable on said guide rods and supported on springs 8 which tend to keep it normally in its uppermost clutch collars 18 for locking the cross-head in its depressed position, the stop collars 20 vfor limiting the upward movement of the cross-head, the mechanism actuated by a handlerconnected to the rock-shaft 22 fori releasing the clutch collars 18, and the` mechanismactuated from the shaft 24 comprising a toggle 26, 28, straightened or broken by an arm 30 moved by an eccentric 32 upon a shaft 34 geared to shaft 24 for raising and lowering the pressing. pad holder yor frame ,16 to produce or to remove the sole laylng pressure. M

Carried upon flanges or guldes 36upon the cross-head are standards or supports 38 and 40 for the Vshoe and flange supporting jaws 42, 42 and 44, 44 respectively, the jaws 42, 42 being constructed to support the heel end of a shoe and the jaws 44, 44 being constructed to 'support the toe end.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2, the vertical rock-shaft 46 mounted in lugs upon the back of the heel standard has at its lower end a cross-arm 48 connected by links 50, 50fto the jaws 42,42 whereby the said jaws may be simultaneously moved apart or toward each other. It willA be noted i that the ypivots of the jaws 42, 42 comprise Apins traveling inslots soarranged that the jaws turn about a center lying in 'their inner edges at the point where said edges contact, wherebyV the continuity of said y.edges is uninterrupted during movement of the jaws. A springv 52 surrounding the rock-shaft`46 holds the jaws yieldingly. at their-inner limits of movement, and a handle 54 upon the upper end of said rock-shaft affordsprovision for positive movement 'of the jaws by the operator either toward or away :from each other.

rlhe support 38 is shaped above'the heel clamping jaws to receive the heel part otk the last and the upper ofthe shoe, and mounted in the support directly above the 'heel part of the last isv an adjustable. abutment 55 against which lthe crown of the last bears during the sole laying operation, the. ad-

justment of theabutment serving to adapt it Jfor use with lasts of" dierent vertical dimensions, so that the bottom of the last may be maintained in proper relation to the under side of fthe heel clamping jaws during the sole laying 'operatiu The support 38 is preferably xed upon the cross-head, as,

for example, by set screws ilengaging vthe 40, said support being slidably/mounted/ upon the anges or guides 36.l

Means is preferably provided for lockin the support 40 in its adjusted position, the provision of such means being especially desirable in the illustrated embodiment of the invention in view of the provision of.'

means for restoring the crease between the flange and upper. The locking means illustrated comprises a pawl 64 pivoted upon the support 40 and bent to provide a handle to be grasped by the operator in unlocking the support from its guide, the said pawl being moved by a spring 65 normally into engagement with ratchet teeth 66 formed upon one of the guides 36.

The ratchet teeth 66 are so inclined that Athey cause thepawl 64 to lock the support 40 against movement away from the support 38. `The support or standard 40 is forked at its lower end and a U-shaped carrier frame 68 is Apivotally connected with the supportat` this end by a pin passing through the, fork members of lthe support and an upwardly projecting portion of -the forward end of'said carrier frame. The frame 68 is supported at its rear end byv a yoke 70, the yoke. 70 having upon its front face teeth which are adapted to coperate with corresponding teeth upon the rear face of the su port 40 to aid in locking the yoke 7 0 in di erent vertical adjustments.

Movement of the Vyoke 7 0 up and down the support 40 variesthe `inclination of the frame 68 and thereby adapts the toe clamping jaws 44 to lastsl of varying spring. The

sov

teeth upon the-yoke 70 are held in mesh with those upon the support 40 when the yoke has been given its desired vertical adjustment, by means of a strap or clamping upon the frame/68 with provision 'for alimited sliding` movement relative thereto, as

`shown in fFig, 4. l'lihe jaws 44, 44, which receive the toe part of the shoe to'be operated upon, are pivoted upon the slide plate V76 in such manner that they .turn about' a center coinciding substanftially` with 'the point of contact of their inner edges, as shown in Fig. 4; The continuity of the inner edges of the jaws is thus unbroken for different adjustments. Springs 7 8, each connected at one end to a vertically extending pin upon the forward extension of the jaw 44 and at its other endto a pin on the slide 76, tend to keep the jaws 44 at their inner limits ofmovement. f

It will be seen from an inspection of Figs.

5 and 6 especially, that the jaws arefpreferably so shaped in cross-section that they may enter the crease between the upper and the sole attaching ila-nge of ashoe, and that they will cause the greatest pressure to be exerted upon the iangeduring the sole laying operation at or near the bottom of said crease. An important function ofthe toe jaws, and preferably also of the heel jaws, isthat of restoring to, ,and maintaining at, proper Vdepth the said crease between the sole attaching flange and the upper.

ln the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2 and also in Fig. 11, the -toe jaws are moved rearwardly to cause their tapered edges to enter or restore the crease between the sole attaching flange of an upper after ythe shoe has been placed, between the heel shaft carries pivotally connected -with it a and toe jaws, and this movement in the forms shown in the said two figures is eected by an angle lever 82 pivoted between forwardly extending ears and the frame 68, one arm of the lever serving as a handle for the operator and the other arm being pivotally connected to the slide 76.`

In Fig. 10 is shown means for automatically eecting the rearward movement of the jaws 44. This means comprises, as shown, a link84 connected ,at one end to the operating arm of the angle lever 82 which, in this construction, has been providedwith a series of openings to permit connection at di'erent distances from its pivot. 'At its other end the said link l8 4 is connected to a forwardly extendingarm 86 rigid with a rock-shaft 88 having its bearings in a bracket 90 on the support or standard 40. A

rearwardly Aextending arm 92 on said rocktubular member 94 inwhich slides a rod 96 having anl adjustable foot 98 adapted to engage a stop plate 100 carried by a bracket bolted to the pressing pad carrier 16. A spring 102, surrounding the rod 96' and enengaging at one end-a collar 104 upon said rod and at its other end engaging the lower end of the 4tubular member 94 serves to transmit to the member 94, and through'it. and its connections to the j aw-carrying slide 76, the pressure produced by the Contact of foot 98 with the plate 100 upon the upward movement of the carrier 16 during the sole laying operation.

The Vpreferred form of the invention illustrated especially in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 difinmates fers from that just described in that an additional vertical adjustment has been. provided for the toe clamping jaws and that both the movement of the heel clamping jaws and the means for moving said jaws have been modified. Furthermore, means has been provided for separating the tee clamping jaws to permit the ready insertion of the toe of the shoe. The additional vertical adjustment of the toe clamping jaws. which is intended primarily to adapt them to lasts of varying depth in the fore part, for example, to lasts for spring heel shoes, and also to lasts for shoes having ordinary heels, is provided for by making the support or standard which carries that part of the shoe supporting mechanism which operates upon the toe in two parts adjustable relatively t0 each other. The said support or standard comprises a part 400 mounted upon the guides 36 in the same manner that the part 40 is mounted, and a part/402, they rear face of the part 400 being provided with teeth which are adapted to engage corresponding teeth uponthe front face of the part 402, theV two parts being heldin their various. adjustments by a set screw 106 passing through the member 400 and screwed into ythe member 402. The yoke 700, which corresponds to the yoke in the construction shown in Fig. 2, is pivotally connected at its upper end to a block 108 having teeth upon its front face engaging corresponding teeth upon the rear face of the part 402. 1 j

The block 108 vcarries a clamp member'llO which surrounds the block 108 on three sides and is provided with lugs which 'travel in grooves in the sides of the part 402. A set screwv 112, mounted in the clamp member 110 and engaging the block 108 is adapted to press the teeth of the block 108 into lockingengagement with the teeth on the part 402. Levers 114,- pivoted upon the frame 68 and provided with slots which receive the vertical pins 80 upon the forward extensions of the jaws 44, constitute convenient means by which the operator may separate the jaws against the tension of the springs 78.

It will be seen from an inspection of Figs.

v4 and 12 that in both of the illustrated forms ofthe invention the Aheel clamping jaws are -vpivoted so that they turn about a center in their inner edge at the back and that therefore the movement of the jaws toward each other is especially emphasized at the forward ends, whereby they serve to force the upper in tight-over the last in the region of `the shank. lt is especially desirable that the jaws toward each other until the sole :has been laid. For these reasons, in thev pre-` erred embodiment of the invention means' has been provided for moving the jaws pos'- itively in both directions `and for locking them in any position to which they have' been moved. v

The illustrated means comprises aplat'e 116 rigidly attached to the lower end of the rock-shaft 46 and provided witha cam slotl 118 which receives a vertically' vextended Apivot pin 120 connecting the links 50 which operate the heel clamping jaws-42. .Y Simul taneous and equal movement of the jaws is provided for by confining the pivot -pin 120` in a longitudinal 'slot 122 in a central rearwardl extension 124 of the'lower part of the support 38.

Rotation of the rock-shaft 46 by' means of- The jaws will'therefore remain in` any posi. l

tion towhich they may. be 'moved by turning the handle 54 except in so far as the spring 52 surrounding the rock-shaft 46, by giving tothe rock-shaft a normal tendency to turn inthe direction to cause thejaws to move toward each other, imparts to the jaws a corresponding tendency. The jaws will,l

however, .be locked against movement caused bypressure brought to beardirectly upon them. Y.

Of means for positioning the sole for the sole laying operation there are' shown in the accompanying drawings three forms', that shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 being a preferred form. f

ln Figs. 1, 2, 3, 7 and 10 is shown a sole positioning mechanism comprising a pair of jaws 126, 126 for the heel end of a sole and a pair of jaws 128, 128 for the toe end of the sole. The jaws 126 are pivoted at 130 upon a plate 132 attached to' a bracket -134 'clamped to the pressing pad support 16. rlhe jaws 126 entend forward over and rest upon the pressing pad 14 and are formed o comparatively thin material, 'so that they do not in- .terfere with fthe action -o'f the pressing pad in pressing the -sole upon the shoe.A

rlhe jaws 128 for the toe 'end of the sole are pivoted at 136 upon' a slideplate 138 having a portion fitting into a dove-tailed guide `140 upon a bracket 142 clamped to the pressing pad support-16.' The jaws 126 for the heel end of the sole are preferably xed sofar as movement longitudinally of the sole is concerned, so that they bear a fixed relation to the heel clamping jaws of the shoe supporting mechanism. l The jaws 128 forthetoe end of the sole, aswindicated in the foregoing description, are preferably adjustable longitudinally of the pressing pad to adapt them to diflerentlengths of soles.y l

'Means vis preferably provided for insuring-equal opening and closing movements of the jaws ofveachpair in order to insure the maintenance of a predetermined and comparatively xed line through'the-ja'ws which \may be called, as hereinbefore suggested, the

axial line of fthe sole. -Such equal movements may be insured conveniently by a construction like that showncomprising links 144 for the heel jaws, each `link'ln,ii1g`piv its. other end having a pivot common with the other link.' Similar links 146 'forthe toe .jaws are similarlyarranged. Connections are preferably provided so that both pairs of jaws may be operated from the same end of the machine. The illustrated means for operating the heel jaws comprises a rod 148 supportedin and guided by a'bracket 150 l clamped `to the pressing pad support 16 and connected at its rearfend to'one end of a f lever 152 pivotedupon the bracket 134, s'aid lever being linkedat its other end to the common pivot of the jaws 144.

' otally 4connected at one end to a jaw and. at

head 154 having at its outer end aT joint j whichconstitutes a sleeve 156 surrounding the rod 148 and which may be clamped to said rod by a set screw 158 has at itsv inner end a similar T joint in which is clamped a rod` 160 parallel to the rod 148.v The rod 160 may be clamped also by a set screw 162 in an upstanding portion on, the slide 164 which carries the common pivot for the links 146. When the machine is operating successively upon soles of the same length, the rod 148 may be'clamped to the rod I154 and the rod 160 may be clamped to theupstanding portion ofthe slide 164,`and thus thetheel -j aws and the toe jawspmay be simultaneously` opened and closed by the operator, a knob 166 upon the end of the rod 148 being pro# vided for convenient manipulation of this mechanism.- llt, however, the machine isoperating successively upon soles varying considerably in length, it is usuallymore conv venient to leave unclamped either the rod 154 and the rod 148 or the rod 160 and the slide 164. The heel jaws and toe jaws may then be opened and closed separately, and

the toe jaws may bereadily moved to adapt themfor the varying lengths .of soles.

The construction just described illustrates I one of the simplest'forlns in which this feature of the invention may be embodied, rbut a construction which has many advantages over the one just describedd is one 'in which v the pivot or pivots for the jaws will lie outside the eld of operation of the shoe supl gaging the sides .of\the heel end of the sole andthe toe end of the sole respectively, and gage members 172 and-174 stationary rela- .tively to the jaws for engaging the heel and toe ends of lthe sole respectively. v

lin order that theportions of the aws and of the gage members which come within the range of operation'of the shoe supporting mechanism may be thin enough not to interfere with the operation of thismechanism, and at the same time Amay be thick enough properly to locate the sole, the inwardly extending ngers of the. jaws and the gage members have been provided at their ends whichcontact with the edge of the sole with pivoted lingers 176 operating in slots in the jaws and gage members, these fingers being bent on their pivots so that springs 178 pressing upon their ends remote from the edge of the shoe tend to keep their forward. ends above the upper surfaces of the jaws and gage members. The springs which bear upon the remote ends of the lingers 176 yield and permit the sole engaging end of the fingers to be pushed down into the-slots as the jaws of the shoe supporting mechanism come into engagement therewith during the sole laying operation.

The jaws-168, 168 are separately pivoted upon the vplate 182, butare connected by links 144 to a' common pivot in the same manner as the jaws` 126 of the solo .positioning mechanism hereinbefore described. The jaws 168 may also be operated from the forward end of the machine by a rod -148 connected to one end of a lever A152, the other end ofwhich is connected to the common pivot of the links 144, as in thev case of the jaws 126, 126l -hereinbefore described.

The jaws 170 are also separately pivoted but connected by links l146 to a common pivot in the-saine manner as the jaws 128 of the mechanism hereinbefore described, the com- ,monpivot 128 being carried upon a slide 180 movable on the slide 182 which carries the jaws 170 and permits their movement longitudinally of the pad 14 to adapt them 'to different lengths of soles. An angle lever 184 fulcrumedupon an upsta-nding portion 1.86 onthe slide 182 affords meansv by which the operator can separate the jaws 170 against the tension of the spring 188 which tends normally to move them toward each other. 1 lThe sole positioning mechanism shown in Figs. v11,112 and 13, which constitutes the preferredembodiment of this feature of theV meegaat invention, comprises pins 190 mounted to'- `of the heel end of the sole, and a pin for each side of the heel end of the sole.. Art the toe end of the sole there is preferably only one pin provided, and that is arranged to engage the side of the toe end of the sole away from the operator. rlFhis arrangement permits convenient placement of the sole be- Y tween the pins which normally rest upon the ressing pad 14, being held upon the` pad y the action of gravity.. 'llhe pin for :the toe end of the sole slides i vertically through a pin guide 192 pivoted upon an extension 196 of-one of the jaws'44 in such manner that it may turn in a plane extending lengthwiseof the shoe. The pin guide 192 is mounted to turn in a plane extending lengthwise of the -shoe in order that its proper position may be maintained when the jaws 44 are adjusted to lasts of diderent spring and is provided with a curved slot 195 in which travels a set screw 194 by which it may be secured in different angular adjustments. rThe pin is thus moved with the toe clamping jaw and is therefore automatically adjusted for varying sizes of soles as the jaw is adjusted for varying sizes of shoes. Since the jaws 44, under the action of the springs 78, adapt themselves to shoes of di'erent sizes, it will be seen that, when a shoe *is presented to the shoe supporting means of the machine, both said shoe supporting means and the sole locating means adapt themselves to the shoe. IThe 'pin which engages the rear edge of the heel end of the sole is guided in a tubular opening in thesupport or standard 38 and is therefore fixed, so far as movement longitudinally of the sole is concerned. (f The pins which engage the side edges of the heel end of the sole are carried in pin `upon the support 38 to adapt the pins for soles, the heel endsvof which are odset more or less to one side of a normal axial line. A spring 206 connected at one end tothe support 38 and at its other end to the common pivot of the links-200 gives to the pins 190 which engage the side edges of the heel end of the sole a tendency to move toward each other, this movement of the links being limitsole.

Litawf 'ed by the engagement of thevpivot 201 with the upper end of the slot 202.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustratedA arrangements of pins, particularly at the toe end of the length of sole required for the 'successful employment of the method of sole laying of this application over that required for the successful employment of the ordinaryl method of sole laying. It will be noted from an inspection of this figure that where-Y as the preliminary curving of the sole to fit it to the under side of the vshoe practiced with the ordinary method of' sole laying tends to wrinkle up the inside of the sole, which is the flesh side of the leather, and therefore more spong'y than the outside, thereby appreciably shortening the surface `which is to engage the under side of the shoe without stretching the outer surface, by thev method of this application the curving of the sole takes place along a line lying between the inner and outer surfaces, and the full bottom covering capacity of the inner surface of the sole is utilized. Inasmuch as there is more or less elasticity in a sole, this curving of the sole during the sole laying operation leaves in the sole as laid a tendency to bend back to its flat condition, which tendency, as hereinbefore pointed out, is desirable in most shoes and especially in childrens shoes.

The operation of the hereinbefore ,described machine is as follows: The crosshead 6 being in its uppermost position, the shoe upon which the sole is tobe laid is 4inserted from below between the heel clamping jaws 42 and is brought up against the abutment which is adjusted by turning in its socket until its lower end bears against the crown of the last when the bottom of the last lies substantially'in the plane of. the under side of the jaws42.

. The Yspring 52 surrounding rock-shaft 46 imparts to the jaws a normal tendency to move `into clamping relation to each other, and as the shoe is-moved into such relation to the yjaws that the jaws may enter the' crease' at the fheel end the spring -52 causes the jaws to adjust themselvesfantomatically to the sizeof the shoe and to clamp the shoe suliciently to hold it during the movement of i the -toe= clamping jaws into operative lpositiom Either at thivstime or-after the shoe has been-adjusted at both its heel and toe ends in theshoe-supporting means the operator preferably `grips the' handle 54 and moves the jaws positively toward each other,

thereby tightening the upper over the last,

especially inu theregion of the shank, and when the-preferred embodiment of the invention is employed vthe jaws will remain locked in the vposition to which they have been moved by the operator. The support 40 forthe toe-clamping jaws is now moved` alongthe guides 36 until Ithe jaws 44 enter the creaseat the toe end of the shoe, the ratchet teeth 66, as hereinbefore described, beingso inclined that the support may move freely in the direction to contract thedistance between the heel and ytoe clamping jaws, and the pawl 64 locks the support 40 in its adjusted. position with the jaws in operative position in the crease at thetoe. The sole which is to be laid upon the shoe is placed in position upon the pad`14 either before.- or afterthe placing of the shoe in the shoe supporting means, although Awhen the preferred embodiment ofthe invention is utilized the sole ispreferably placed upon the pad after theshoe hasV been placed in its supporting means, inasmuch as the adjustment of the pin for positioning the toe end of the sole takes place simultaneously with the adjustment of the shoe supporting means.v The pins 190 which engage the sides of the sole at the heel end of the shoe being yieldingly pressed'toward each other, the sole is simply thrust between these pins and' up against the pin which is intended to 'engage the heel end ofthe soleand against the pin which engages the side of the sole at the toe end. The spring 206y keeps the opposed side'engaging pins inlengagement with the side edges of the sole throughout the sole laying operation.

When elther of the first described two ployed, the sole is kept substantially in its 'Hat condition in order that the positioning 110 forms of sole positioning mechanismA is em-tl preferred em- The sole having been adjusted by its positioning means in proper transversevrelation to the shoe-in the shoe supporting means, the cross-head 6 is moved down by the treadle 12 until the under side of the shoe coines nearly vor quite into contact with -the sole upon the pad 14, and the shaft 24 is then set in motion by anyl suitablestarting and stopping mechanism, not shown, there bycafusing the toggle 26, 28 to be straight-- ened and the pressing pad support 16 to'beY moved'upward pressing 'the solev upon the pad `14 firmly against the shoe held in theY vshoe 'supporting means, the clgtch collars l1S locking the head 6 firmly against the upward pressure' of the pad 14.

When the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 10 is employed, as the. pressing pad support 16 moves upward to press the sole upon .the shoe, the plate 100 carried by s'aid support will raise the-foot 98 and, through its connections with the lever 82. will cause the jaw-carrying slide 7 6 to move rearwardly, vthereby forcing the toe clamping jaws 44 firmly `into the crease about the toe of the shoe. `inasmuch as the heel clampingjaws are relatively `fixed, this movement of the toe clamping jawswill tend to move the last and -shoe bodily rearwardly, thereby causing a relative movement of the 'heel clamping jaws and the upper of the shoe, by which a restoration of the crease at the heel end of the shoe is effected simultae neously with the restoration of the crease at the toe end of the shoe. lit will be-seen furthermore that this contraction of the distance between the heel andvtoe clamping jaws also tends to stretch the upper tightly over .the heel and toe ends of the last, and

such automatic and simultaneousstretching jofthe upper to conform it to the last is an important feature of this invention. When with the l'method .of myv LettersPatent No.-

981,851 above identified, the upper is molded substantially to :its desired shape,l and the insole is attached before the last-is inserted.

' .The last is then driven lengthwise into the shoe and, since .a comparatively l'flexible insole is usually employed, the insertion of the .last causes the insole tobulge down somewhat below the outturned ange of the up- ;per.. 4This is not objectionable, whenl the outsble laid by a'machine 'of this type and, in'yfact, it is advisable to so form :the

upper in the'preliminary voperations that such bulgin Vwill take place, since itl con- 1 tributes toV t e successful carrying outof an 'important object lof .this invention, namely,

the stretching of the ,upper transversely of the last during' the sole laying operation.

Y' A,It will be seen from the foregoing descrip- Vtion that-when thegtoe clamping ja-ws are vadjusted in' properposition about 'the toe end cfa shoe so that they enter the crease C 'i between-the v'Harige and the upper and support both the iange and the upper against the upward pressure of the sole that as the sole is pressed upwardly by the pad 14 it will force the last up into the upper, thereby stretching the upper tightly to the last about the forepart.

It will be noted that these last-mentioned advantage in the performance of several lof the steps of a novel method of lasting,

and it will be further noted from the foregoing description andfrom the illustration that there aredisclosed in this application a number of improvements in the art ofy making shoes which cannot properly be claimedv herein. Some y of these improvements have been made the subject-matter of my co-pendingapplication Ser. No. 429,013, filed April 24, 1908., Having described my invention, what ll claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent (f the United States is:--

1. lin a machine of the class described, the combination vwith sole laying means, of means for supporting the sole attaching flange of a shoe against the pressureof the sole during the sole laying operation constructed to adapt itself automatically t shoes of varying width.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with sole laying means, of means for supporting the sole attaching Hange of a shoe duringthe sole laying 'operation adjustable to shoes of varying sole pitch.

3. ln a machine of the class described, the combination with sole laying means, of means adjustable to shoes of dierent sizes for supporting the sole attaching flange of a shoe against the pressure of the sole during the sole 'laying operation, said means constituting also means for carrying the shoe right side up during the relative Kmovements of said supporting means and said sole laying means.

4. lin a machine of the class described, the combination nwith sole laying means, of means comprising a pair of toe clamping jaws anda pair of heel clamping jaws for supporting .the sole attachingflange of a shoe against ,thepressure of the sole during thesole-laying operation, said pairs of jaws being relatively adjustable Ytoward and away from each other in order to Ioperate upon shoes Vof di'erent lengths. f

5. lin a machine of the class described, the combination with sole laying means, of means for supporting the sole attaching flange of aV shoe against the pressure of the sole during the sole laying operation, comprising jaws mounted to turn about a center lying in the inner edge of said jaws whereby the continuity of said edge is uninterrupted for Vvarioais vadjustrnents of said jaws.

means for supporting vthe sole attaching flange of a shoe against the pressure of the sole during the sole laying operation, comprising clamping jaws normally ypressed yieldingly into clamping relation to 4each other.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with sole laying means, of means for supporting the sole attaching flange of a shoe against the'pressure of the sole during the, sole laying operation com` prising a pair of clamplng jaws normally pressed yieldingly into clamping relation to each other, and meansA for moving said jaws positively into or out ,of clamping rela-tion to each other.

8. In a machine of the class described, the

4combination with sole llaying means, of

means forming av continuous support for the sole attaching flange of a shoe against the pressure of the sole during the sole laying operation `and comprising a pair of clamping jaws constructed to move into various shoe clamping relations to each other without disturbing the continuity of the support,

and means for moving said jaws positively' into shoe clamping relationto eachother and locking them in such relation.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with sole laying means, of shde supporting means comprising independent pairs of jaws shaped along their inner edges tofit closely the lower edge ofV the shoe about the heel and about the toe respectively and normally pressed yieldinglj7 into clamping relation to each other,

and shaped in transverse section to t the upper in the crease between the sole attaching llange and the upper, said jaws being arranged for relative bodily gitudinally of the shoe.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with solev laying means and shoe supporting means, of means movable in substantially the plane of the sole attaching flange and operating during the sole laying operation to insure the maintenance of a crease of desired depth between said flange and the upper.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with sole laying means and shoe supporting means, of means moving in substantially the plane of the sole' attaching flange during the sole laying operation for restoring to proper depth the crease between said flange and the upper, Said means o r;

ating to maintain the said depth of the crease during the sole laying operation.

12. In a machine of the class described,

the combination with sole laying means andshoe supporting means, of means operating in the crease between the sole attac movement lony sole during the, sole laying operation comprising a pair lof clamping jaws and a support for said jaws movable with said jaws longitudinally-of the shoe during the soleI laying operation.

'14. In a machine of the class described,

the combination with sole laying means, of

means for supporting the sole vattaching flange of a shoe against the pressure of the sole during the sole laying operation, comprising a pair of clamping jaws and a support for said jaws movable with said jaws longitudinally of the shoe, and means for automatically `moving said support during the sole laying operation.

15. In a machine ofthe class described, thecombination with sole laying means, of means for supporting the sole attaching flange of a shoe against the pressure of the sole during the sole laying operation, comprisinga member which enters the crease between the flange and upper at the heel end of the sole 'and another member which enters' the crease between the flange and upper at the toe end of the sole, and'means for contracting the/distance between these two members during the sole laying operation, said membeis being arranged :for relative bodily movement toward and away from each other along the same straight line.

16. In a. machine of vthe class described, the combination with sole laying means, of means for supporting the sole attaching flange of a shoey against the pressure of the sole during the sole laying operation, com- .prising` a member which enters the crease per at the toe end of the sole. and automatic means for contracting the distancefbetween these two members during the sole laying operation.- i

A 17. In a machine of the class described, the` combination with sole laying means, of shoe supporting -means comprising heel clamping jaws and toe clampingr jaws. and means for automatically moving one of said pairs of jaws toward the other during the sole laying operation.

`1,8. In a machine of the class described,y the combination with sole .laying means and shoe supporting means, of means moving in substantially the plane ofthe sole attaching flange' during the sole laying operation for restoring to proper depth the crease between said flange and the upper, said means operating to maintain the said depth of the attaching flange of a shoe against the pressure of the sole during the sole laying operation, and means for locking the flange supporting means in its shoe length adjustment. 20. In a machine of the class described, the combination with sole laying means, of means automatically adjustable to shoes of diii'erent sizes for supporting the sole attaching ange of a shoe against the pressure of the sole during the sole laying operation, and means for locking the Hange supporting means in its heel width adjustment. 21. In a machine of the class described, the combination with sole laying means, of means adjustable to shoes of different sizes for supporting the sole attaching Hange of a shoe against the pressure of a sole during the sole laying operation, said means comprising stationary means for supporting the flange about the heel and movable means for supporting the ilange about the toe, means for locking said heelk ange supporting v:means in its heel width adjustment and means for locking said toe iange supportingmeans in its shoe length adjustment.

'22. ln a 'machine of the class described, the combination with sole laying means, of

means for supporting the sole attaching flange of a shoeagainst the pressure of the sole during the sole laying operation, and

means bearing upon the crown of" the last at substantially one point, about which the last is free to rock, for positioning and maintaining the bottom Aof the last carried byA said shoe in predetermined relation to said v flange supportmg means.

23. ln a machine of the class described, the combination with'sole laying means, of

means `for supporting 'the sole attachingv .flange of a shoe against the pressure of the sole during^the sole laying operation, `and meansbearing upon the crown of the last at substantially one point, about which the llast is free to rock, and adjustable to engage ywith lasts of varying vertical dimensions,

to position the bottom of the last carried by the shoe in predetermined relation to said flange supportingA means.

y 24.. lln a machine of the class, described, the lcombination with sole laying means, of means for supporting the sole attaching Hangs of a shoe against the pressure' of the sole during the sole laying operation comprising a pair of clamping jaws for the heel end of the shoe and an adjustable .abutment against which the crownl of the last bears durin the sole laying operation.

25. n a machine of the class described, the combination with sole laying means and shoe supporting means constructed and arranged to operate upon shoes of various sizes, of means arrangedto engage and pobeing operated up6n,said means operating to maintain the sole in proper relation to Vthe shoe during the sole laying operation.

26. lln a machine 'ofthe class described, the combination with sole supporting means and shoe supporting means constructed and arranged to operate upon shoesof various sizes, and means for eiecting a relative movement of said two means to cause a sole to be laid upon a shoesupported by said shoe supporting means, of means for en gaging andv positioning upon lsaid sole supporting means in proper transverse 'relation to the shoe carried by saidshoe supporting means a sole of a size suited to "the particular shoe which is being operated shoe supporting means a sole of a size suited to the particular shoe which is being operated upon.

28. ln a. machine ofthe class described, the combination with sole laying means and shoe supporting means, of means for positioning the sole operating to maintain the sole in proper relation to the shoe during the soleJ laying operation, said means comprising members extending between the sole laying means and the shoe supporting means and yielding into one of said means during the sole laying operation.

. 29. ln a machine of the class described,`

the combination with sole supporting means r`and shoe supporting means, relatively movable to effect a' sole laying operation, of sole positioning pins carried in guides in said shoe supporting means and resting normally upon said sole supporting means, said pins being arranged to yield into the guides in-said .shoe supporting means during the sole laymgfoperation. Y

'sition inthe sole laying means a sole oa size adapted to the pa r ticular shoe which 1s 30. lln a machine of thel classdescribed,

the combination with sole laying means and shoe supporting means'vadjustable to shoes of varying size, o f sole positioning means sions.

31. In amachine of the class described,

the combination withsole laying means and-V shoe supporting means, of sole positioning means, saidshoe supporting means and sole positioning mea-ns being constructed and arranged to .adapt themselves simultaneously to shoes of varying lateral dimensions upon thepresentation v'of the shoes.

32. A sole laying machine comprisingsole laying means, and sole positioning means constructed and arranged to adapt itself to "soles of varying lateral dimensions as the work is presented to the machine.

33. In amachine of the class described,

the Vcombination with sole laying means andl shoe. supporting means, of' means f or positioning the sole in the soleilaying mean'soperating to maintain the sole in proper rela- Y tion to the shoe throughout the 'sole laying operation, said means being adjustable to soles'of varying extension on' the two sides of the axial li eof the sole.

34. In a machine of the class described,

the combination with sole laying means, of

automatic means arranged to operate dur- -ing'the sole laying operation to stretch the upper tightly over the last.

" .ranged to .effect automatically both a.

l tlengthwise' of the last anda stretching 35. In a machine of the class described,"

the combination with sole laying means, of

means operating during the sole laying op eration for stretching the upper tightly over the last,

36. In a machine of the class described, the combination with sole layingmeans, of shoesupporting means constructed and arstretching ofl the upper to produce a close I .of the upper to produce a close fit about 37. In a machine of the class described, vthe combination with sole laying means and shoe supporting means, of means 'operating simultaneously upon opposite sides of the shoeduring the sole laying operation to engage theV shoe stock in the crease between the sole attaching' flange and upper and to force the stock inwardly to tighten -it at the front ends of .the heel seat relatively to the upper in the shank and to place the said flange in proper position to receive the sole.

38. In a machine of the' class described,

the combination with sole laying means and shoe supporting means, of means arranged to engage the shoe inthe crease between the sole attaching flange and the-upper and constructed to bring the sole attaching flange -into and maintain it in proper relation to the sole during the sole laying operation,

and means to cause said shoe engaging means to tighten the upper in the shank and to maintain it in tightened condition while the sole is being laid.

39. In a machine of the class described,

the combination with sole laying. means, of mea-ns for automatically stretching the upper over one end of the last .during the sole laying operation.

40. In a machine of the class described, the combination with sole`laying'means, of means for automatically and simultaneously stretching the upper over the heel and ltoe "ends o f the last during the sole laying operation.

the combination with sole laying means, of shoe supporting means constructed and arlranged vto stretch the upper automatically over the toe end of the last during the sole shoe supporting mea-ns, and means for auto'- matically contracting said shoe supporting means to effect a stretching of the upper 41. In a-machine of the class described,

over the heel and toe ends of the last during the sole laying operation.

.43. In a machine of the class described, the combination with sole laying means and shoe supporting means, ofmeans for positioning the sole upon the sole laying means during the sole laying operation comprising 'centeringjaws for the heel end of the sole and centering jaws for the toe end of the sole, said jaws being movable with thel sole laying means during the sole laying operation, and means forsimultaneously opening and closing saidheel and toe jaws.

44. In a machine Vof the class described,

the combination with sole supporting means and Ashoe supportingmeans movable relatively to each other to effect a sole laying the last transversely of its length.

ing pivoted'sole centering jaws located-uponv said solesupporting means, but having their pivots lying outside the range of operation 'of said shoe supporting means.

45. Ay sole laying machine, comprising, in i combination, sole'pressing means and means for positioning the sole upon said sole press- 111g means automatically adjusted by the presentation of the shoe to. the machine.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' KARL ENGEL.

Witnesses:

H. DoRsEY SPENCER, 'Fmr Enron L. EDMANDs. 

